There’s An App For That: In Fact There Are 10

When it comes to iPhone applications, there are some really great ones and others that aren’t even worth their zero-dollar price tag. Apple’s customer reviews are helpful for deciding where to spend your money but, as most dance-related apps have a smaller audience, there are many that haven’t received visible feedback. So, I went in search of dance apps that I could share with you! Some I had already, others were generously offered by the makers for review on this site.

My Favorites

Freeze Dance

Move and, when the music stops, freeze! Educators can get very specific, asking students to move and freeze in certain ways. However, it’s a fun activity for parents and other caregivers as well because anyone can play.

This app by Bombing Brain Interactive retrieves the music you already have on your phone (or iPod Touch) for use in the game. Its creator Tim told me that he created it for his 4 year old daughter. He says, “She loves to dance (in her 2nd year of lessons) and has a lot of fun playing with this.”

Drawing from your playlists, artists, or albums, you start by choosing a song. The app will stop the song at random intervals for a period of seconds and then continue the song. A nice feature of Freeze Dance is that you can turn the automatic stop and/or the restart on or off (if for some reason you want to be in control), adjust the random interval between stops, and tweak the length of time frozen. My toddler finds it hard to freeze for very long so I love that I have some choice with the app. I also love that I don’t have to be holding the device for it to work (meaning I get to dance with my son) and, since it pulls songs from my library, a huge list of songs are available to play Freeze Dance.
Verdict: Great app for anyone working with kids of all ages and you can’t beat 99 cents!

Ballet Lite/Ballet Index

This app by Australian software developper, Cannonade is a ballet dictionary. Ballet Lite (the free version) was already in my iPhone arsenal when I began my app research so I’m focusing on this version. It is my understanding, however, that they are identical except that Ballet Index (99 cents) is loaded into your device. That means it A) requires no network to work and B) can retrieve definitions instantly, with no delay.

At best count, the app looks to have over 200 terms. Some have photos but it is a pleasant surprise to come across one (you don’t know until you open it). There is also a flashcard feature that pops up a random term. State the answer to yourself (unless you want to turn a few heads) and then push the reveal button to see if you were right. It appears that the dictionary uses an assortment of sources including the Wikipedia Ballet Glossary page. The author of the app goes into more detail in this forum thread.

Pros:

• A relatively large and useful index of terms.
• Cross-referenced terms (links from one definition to another) are a plus
• Often includes a literal translation and a description of the movement
• On the info page you can trade the hot pink border for black

Cons: None really – you can always try the free version and if you like it and use it a lot, buy the 99 cent version!
Verdict: No hand-held, fit-in-your-pocket dictionary is going to be perfect for everyone – there are thousands of ballet terms and definition sources vary. This works and is often being tweaked by the developer. More photos or video would make it more useful for students I think, but it is a handy reference for those who are somewhat familiar with the terminology. Can’t go wrong at this price!

P.S. Cannonade also offers Tap Index and Tap Lite. I’m not enough of a tap aficionado to know how useful or accurate this dictionary is. Keep in mind that tap terminology is highly variable from region to region and the developer is Australian so there may be differences. But again, Tap Lite is free to try!

Nifty Notables

Say Ballet

Say Ballet is a glossary of over 140 ballet terms that includes video or photographs for at least half of the definitions. What is unique about this app, however, is that voice recognition can be used to search the glossary. Browse the alphabetical list of terms, watch the accompanying video or listen to the pronunciation. It also has a quiz feature that requires answers via voice recognition. The app is based upon flash cards developed by a dance teacher from Carmel Academy of Performing Arts and features two of its students in the videos and photos. [more in this news item]

Pros:

• A large list of terms
• The voice recognition feature is unique among dance apps; speaking a search term comes in handy for those unsure of spelling
• The movements on video are performed clearly and accurately
• Quiz results can be saved with a name to keep track of scoring for multiple players
• Items with video are noted with an icon

Cons:

• The voice recognition (like most voice recognition programs I’ve found) is finicky – I sometimes had to try repeatedly and copy the accent and inflection of the speaker exactly to get the correct term to come up and occasionally one syllable words were a problem – this affects getting an accurate quiz result as well;
• At $9.99 it is a bit pricier than most dance apps;
• Some users may prefer video of a professional dancer performing the steps;
• Some of the terms are pretty rare (faire le tiroirs, anyone?), and others are a bit redundant (sauté, sauter, sautillé).

Verdict: The voice recognition works about as well as I would expect but not as well as I would like. This is still a pretty solid app and could be useful for students to practice terminology on the go. With video included, this is one of the more useful dance dictionary apps out there. Worth the price? A $10 pricetag would be outrageous to some and minor for others. Too individualized to call it – you’ll have to decide for yourself.

Shop4Dance

This is a unique and quite specialized shopping organizer. The developer, John Sepulveres says “The app was developed after my daughter’s Spring Dance Performance. My wife was making endless lists of tight colors, the exact lipstick color, and packing of accessories, etc.!” They say necessity is the mother of invention… in the case of iPhone apps, however, it seems the fathers are the ones giving birth.

There is a detailed feature list at John’s website, but basically you can add a dancer by name with the plus/add icon, then under that dancer’s name you can add dance-specific supplies from an exhaustive list or create your items and categories for inclusion. Once you’ve added items you can add other info like brand, size, color, etc., save it add notes, alter your needs and “haves” as needed, and add notes or reminders.

Pros:

• Convenience – no need to scribble down or carry around your dancer’s instructions. For families with multiple children competing in dance this might be a must if for no other reason than to keep track of brands and ever-changing sizes throughout the year.
• Versatile – you can create fully customize your own categories and items. Who says you can’t put your son’s sports team requirements in there too? Come recital time, teachers may also be able to keep track of each of their classes’ required accessories and costumes this way too.
• Low cost (99 cents)

Cons:

• The application is so simple that it needs a tutorial or instruction page. Sounds crazy but it’s true. I had to play around with this a while to know when to hit the ‘add,’ when to hit save, and on which screen I needed to push what. I’m pretty intuitive and it was still confusing at first.

Verdict: Not everyone will find this essential, but because it is customizable, you may find additional uses for this shopper’s helper.

Room for Improvement

Dancer QuickQuotes

Quotes for, by, and about dancers and dance. You can add favorites to a list, search for keywords, and share via email. What’s missing is sharing via social networks and/or the option to copy a quote to your clipboard. Also some quotes are not exactly noteworthy – more like a random sentence torn from a paragraph. Verdict: Eh! Still waiting for a really good dance quote app. The cost isn’t bad (99 cents) but I am just not that impressed.

Ballet News

A pre-loaded feed aggregator of dance blogs. For someone who has no desire or who has no idea how to set up their own feed reader, this might be really useful. Unfortunately, I haven’t had much luck with this particular app. It’s pretty buggy. Upon opening, it updates the feeds but I found at least one of the feeds was causing the whole thing to stall. I removed it (you can add to or delete the feeds available) and that helped but I’ve also noticed that some feeds get misplaced. For instance, Dance Advantage happens to be second on the list but often my posts will show up under other blogs. Verdict: This would not replace the dance blog smorgasbord I’ve created for free via Google Reader, which I access easily on iPhone with the Google services app. If it weren’t for the glitches, this 99 cent app might be worth it to someone who wants a ready-made list of dance blogs to follow.

American Tap Dance

This app lists 15 tap steps including waltz clog, bombershay, and buffalo which are demoed with a foot diagram and tap sounds. Using your finger, you can tap out the rhythm and receive a score. The goal of this may be more tap game than teaching gadget for tap dance, however it does make an attempt at showing actual tap steps. The game has a very short time lapse between each repeat – a very spastic experience. Verdict: If you want to see how fast your fingers can tap you could give it a try. The cost ($2.99) is more than I would pay for a game like this.

More Dancer Goodies

Pilates for Dancers

Video guide featuring 24 Pilates exercises including the hundreds, bridge, and double/single leg stretch. A clear and well-executed introduction to pilates for anyone. This series is not super challenging but if you are new to pilates or need a handy primer, this provides DVD quality video that can travel with you. You can watch the videos in sequence, play random installments, or organize your own “playlist.” Verdict: Good for beginners and not a bad price for a video app ($1.99). You might also want to check out other dance apps by Nexstudios such as Learn to Dance Swing.

So You Think You Can Dance Vote

I haven’t had the chance to try this out yet since the new season of SYTYCD has not started. If you are a serious voter this app keeps you updated on when voting begins and ends in your time zone. The point is go anywhere voting: the contestant’s names and photos are listed and during voting time, you tap your favorite’s image and the correct number will be displayed for you to call and cast your vote. During voting the app also shows the current voting tally among users. I have checked out the Tropic Apps‘ American Idol (AI) Vote (available here) and the app has worked well. Verdict: If you can’t bear to miss your chance to vote, 99 cents is definitely not too high a price.

When downloading apps for your iPhone or iPod Touch, be sure to check their compatibility. Not all apps are made for or work best on all devices!

What are your favorite dance apps?

Which non-dance apps make your dance life easier?

Dance, Dance Everywhere!

Dance is HOT!

And, you know what? I don’t see that changing in 2010.

Even astrologer, Susan Miller agrees. She appeared on The Early Show before the new year to make some predictions. This additional new year conjecture was published on The Early Show blog:

“Interest in dance on TV will increase. In the summer there will be reality TV — but as Jupiter goes into Pisces better ideas will be brought to TV because it’s an artistic time.”

I don’t know a thing about astrology but I do like the sound of that. More dance, better ideas, and artistic times ahead.

Gazing into my crystal ball…

My prediction for 2010 is that we’ll see dance artists and companies making better use of technology and the internet to distribute their work in a way that is artistically and financially beneficial.

I don’t know about you, but in my home we download music to our devices. We browse our AppleTV when we want to rent or download a movie. Missed TV shows are viewed online or purchased through iTunes. Though I live in a large metropolitan area and attend a lot of live dance performance, I’d welcome being only a few clicks, flips, or bleeps away from dance content in my living room… that didn’t feature over-scripted “reality,” frenetic camera cuts, and nails-on-a-chalkboard-thank-goodness-for-fast-forward judges.

There are a few aspects of televised dance that I find annoying but what I truly love about the success of dance on television is its potential for building awareness of what it is to be a dancer and for expanding the dance audience. I don’t think filmed productions can replace live performance, even the flashy stuff on TV doesn’t come close. It is my hope though that, as its small-screen cousin has done, dance which makes its home in live-performance venues will begin to embrace its inner “hottie” in the coming year.

Digital Schmigital

I have to share something I read on the TenduTV blog because there has been a lot of talk in the dance world about a recent NEA report that presents a decline in dance audience numbers (the same report says online viewing is up, by the way):

The Real Dance Audience isn’t Really Declining.

We know what the surveys and studies say, and we don’t believe a word of it. Sure, it’s fair to say that attendance at dance performances is declining. However, to leap from attendance declines to an overall audience decline is a huge and counter-productive stretch. Millions of people are watching dance on television every week. 10 year old children can accurately compare dancers’ attributes. If anything, the dance audience has grown faster in the last few years than in any other period in dance’s history.

The problem is that dance companies aren’t effectively reaching those audiences, if they’re reaching them at all.

I encourage you to read the post at the TenduTV blog. The article doesn’t place all blame on dance companies, it goes on to describe the catch-22 of dance film production – costs vs. distribution – and touches on copyright legalities, all of which make it difficult for artists to get their work out there for even dance-lovers to consume, let alone the general public.

I have talked before about the work TenduTV is doing. In addition to my earlier prediction, I’d like to add that I am confident that this all-dance channel, which already makes streaming and downloadable content available online and via on-demand television, will continue to find more ways to enter your home, your computer, and your devices in 2010 and bring some fabulous dance artists with it.

Dance, Dance Everywhere!

Will the goal in this brave new on-demand world be getting the dance to the people? Perhaps! Despite fears, it may even improve those audience attendance numbers. So You Think You Can Dance doesn’t sell less live tour tickets because the dancers appear on people’s television set each week and movie-goers don’t stop going to movies because they get NetFlix at home or on their computer. Let’s have a little dance, dance everywhere!

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Smart Moves

When it comes to 1) reaching a wider audience and 2) benefiting financially from the creative work itself, dance companies large, small, known, and obscure face a few obstacles.

These are are the biggies:

1. Limited to live performance venues
2. Limited funding

So will the funding issue (#2) improve if dance companies are smart about how they expand beyond the confines of the proscenium stage (#1) and move forward in the digital age?

What would be the smart moves to make in 2010?

If companies cling too fearfully to the small audience that pays to come see them, do they risk missing the larger audience that would pay to have the dance company come to them?

Will a larger, home-viewing audience ever make it to the theatre?

What are some of the other obstacles concert dance companies face?

You know what to do, leave your comments below!

TenduTV Delivers Concert Dance on Demand

Because of technology available to us online and in our homes, we are rapidly becoming an “on demand” culture. From a personal computer, a phone, a TV, or iPod, viewers may take in content at their own convenience.

Dance artists and companies are beginning to find ways of making use of this technology, giving audiences that previously may have been out of reach, access to their art.

It is exciting to think that someone on the opposite side of the world can tune in to watch the work of an artist known only on their home turf. And, I find it really thrilling that students unable to attend a live performance due to location or other circumstances have the opportunity to access a work they may never have seen otherwise.

So….

Today I’d like to connect you to TenduTV, a broadband television channel that is delivering live concert dance, documentaries, and dance for camera works to an ever-widening audience.  Their videos, many of which show complete (rather than excerpted) contemporary dance works  for stage and film, offer excellent opportunities for students to connect with the dance world beyond their own studio.

Live performance video of Robert Battle’s “Overture,” Julie Voshell (from “Movin’ Out”) and Duncan Cooper (see my report on his recent interview here) in Leda Meredith’s “Pair of Jacks,” and works by Jonah Bokaer (which I’ve written about here) are available via TenduTV. There are also several award-winning screendance selections and an inspirational documentary film about the difference dance has made in a London women’s correctional facility. It is not to be missed.

I also want to note that TenduTV is to be commended for working to help dance artists utilize current technology without sacrificing the integrity and copyright protection of their work. I always look forward to the new selections posted on their channel via Sling.com and encourage you to keep your eye on this project. TenduTV is continually finding new spaces and places to broadcast, including millions of home televisions throughout the U.S.

Check out TenduTV’s channel at Sling.com

Visit their site and blog for more information

And say hello on Twitter and Facebook

Your “Face” on Facebook

Promoting Your Dance Studio with a Public Profile Page

First, a Bit of Background

Whether you currently use Facebook or not, by now you have probably heard of it. Initially introduced at Harvard University, the service was essentially (although not exclusively) a way for students to attach names to faces. Expanding to high schools and then large corporations, Facebook has developed into the gigantic social network service (definition found here) it is today.

I have been a member of the site since 2006, when it was first opened to anyone 13 and older with a valid e-mail address. For much of these three years Facebook lived in the shadow of MySpace and I was lucky to find one or two people I knew with personal profiles. Recently I’ve witnessed the rapid increase in popularity and growth that has brought to the site friends, colleagues, former classmates (and their parents). Someone I know joins almost every day. New websites, applications, and online tools come and go but so far Facebook has been savvy regarding trends and proactive in updating and improving their service.

Why Create a Facebook Page for your Dance Studio or Organization

With the addition of (and recent changes to) what Facebook calls “Pages” or “Public Profiles” local businesses are finding Facebook useful for word-of-mouth advertising. Customers can become “Fans” of your organization and directly interact with your business in nearly the same way they would interact with their “Friends” on Facebook. In addition, their interactions with your page are visible to the Friends they’ve added, helping to spread the word about your business. Facebook describes the process this way:

When your fans interact with your Facebook Page, stories linking to your Page can go to their friends via News Feed. As these friends interact with your Page, News Feed keeps driving word-of-mouth to a wider circle of friends.

How Do Fans Interact? And, What the Heck is a “News Feed?”

As the primary method of interaction on Facebook, The Wall is an important feature of any profile. On your page, within a box that encourages you to write “What’s on your mind” you can add any kind of broadcast message regarding your business – these can include links (be sure to use http://), upcoming events, fun facts, or even questions. These are added to your wall. Fans (if you allow them), may also write something on your wall, add their thoughts to a discussion, or comment on a photo or note you’ve added.

Activity that appears on your wall will be seen by Fans via their News Feed. A listing of the latest activities and actions taken on the network, the News Feed is the primary method a user employs to keep track of the activity of his friends and now, also the entities of which he is a fan. Likewise when a fan adds or interacts with content on your Page, his activity appears as an action/activity visible to his friends in their News Feed.

Therefore, the more interaction between you and your Fans, the better. If you don’t feel you can do it alone, you can add administrators to help you simply by sending an invitation from Facebook via email.

Examples of a Page

Here is Arthur Murray Dance Studio’s facebook page. NOTE: If you are not a Facebook user or are not logged in, you will see a more limited version. In order to interact, write on their wall, or comment on their activity, you must be logged in with a personal profile account. The “public” version of their page is searchable via Google – that’s how I found it. Here is another example of a Facebook Page… mine: Dance Advantage

How to Set Up Your Public Profile Page

Signing up is easy. Visit http://www.facebook.com/pages/create.php and fill out the appropriate information. Most dance studios would be considered a Local Business, however there is not a specific category for dance so choose what you think is best, place your business’s name in the appropriate field, and submit. You need not have a Facebook account to set up a Page, however it can be a bonus in learning how to use and navigate the network.

At first, your new Facebook Page will appear rather blank. Prompts, however, will help you to get started. You might begin with uploading a picture (this will be your avatar throughout the site so you may want to choose a logo – you can always change it later). You can also click Edit Information and enter the basic details about your business. Clicking on Edit Page (under your photo) offers additional settings options.

Pages may feature and display Discussion Boards, Events, Links, Notes, Photos, and Reviews, as well as other applications. Many of these can be added or removed as a tab at the top of your page. For example, if you think posted photos may be important to the promotion of your studio, creating a Photos tab is a good way to feature them.

A Note on Pages and Privacy

It is imperative to remember that Public Profiles are exactly that…. public! Public Profile Pages do not have the extensive privacy settings that Personal Profiles do. Therefore, do not not add or show anything in the content of this page that you would not want broadcast to anyone/everyone on the internet! Items posted on your Wall can be removed.

In Conclusion

Like an interactive business card, Pages on Facebook represent your business, organization, or brand. They are visible in web searches to those not on Facebook. And, within Facebook, Pages offer a chance for any dance studio to directly interact and share news, info, links, events, and more with their fans and to spread the word about your classes or programs to others on this vast social network.

Should you desire to take this a step further and have the budget to do so, Facebook also offers advertising opportunities for Pages that can be targeted to certain users.

Learn about Personal Profiles and Privacy Settings HERE!

Also Check Out Comparing Pages and Groups — Which is Best For Your Dance Studio?

Does your studio have a Facebook Page?

Are there other social networks you use to interact with potential students or their parents?

What are some other ways you can advertise your dance studio online?

12 Steps to a More Eco-Friendly Dance Studio

Happy Earth Day!

12 Ideas for Reducing, Reusing, and Recycling in the Dance Studio Environment

1. Collect and Recycle

Many of us recycle at home but forget about our workplace. Collect plastic, aluminum, glass, paper, and cardboard if you can. If there is no collection for your area or facility, check into possible drop-off sites and mobilize teachers, parents, and students to see that it gets there.

Consider recycling CDs and cases, as well! With music going completely digital there are probably a lot of these lying around the studio, not to mention all of the burned CDs that get made and tossed. Check this article for ideas about Where to Recycle CD and DVD Cases or try http://www.cdrecyclingcenter.com.

2. Turn Off Lights and Office Machines

Encourage students and staff to turn off lights whenever the studios, bathrooms, or offices are not in use. If your space has the option, try using only half of the lights available or installing dimmer switches. And, replace bulbs,as they burn out with energy-efficient ones.

Also, shut down computers and other office equipment when not in use, purchasing Energy Star labeled devices when you can.

3. Avoid Air Conditioning

Embrace the sweat and resist the urge to immediately snap on the A/C on hot days. Check out this article in Dance Teacher about Choosing the Right Temperature for Your Studio. And, don’t forget to remind students to stay hydrated!

4. Reduce Water Bottle Waste

Speaking of hydration, I know that some of you probably sell bottled water at your studio. However, it’s a no-brainer that all that waste is a real downside. Consider providing filtered water and/or encouraging students to bring a refillable from home. Perhaps you could sell containers with the studio logo to make up for not selling bottled water.

5. Reduce Water Use

Consider installing low-flow toilets or using the ol’ brick-in-the-tank method. Plus, do your best to keep up with maintenance of dripping faucets.

6. Go Paperless

In this age of technology, it isn’t as difficult as it seems. Studios are beginning to move newsletters and other communications online. From increased communication through a studio blog to interacting with customers on your studio’s own Ning social network, technology is making it much easier to go paperless. In fact, the free teleseminar that I am involved with at DanceStudioOwner.com will include discussion about how to transition your registration and billing systems online. This event begins TODAY with yours truly kicking things off. The topics are so timely, please don’t miss it. There is no cost, all you need is an email address, a phone, and some spare moments throughout the next month!

7. Print Wisely

When you must print, use both sides of the paper whenever possible, use the back sides of old documents for faxes, drafts, etc, use the draft setting on your printer when you can, and consider recycling your ink cartridges or toner.

8. Carpool

Start a carpool network. If you are already communicating online with your customers (or even if you are not), there may be plenty of opportunities to organize parents and students. We live in a fast-paced world but students are very conscious of environmental issues. You might be surprised at their efforts in this area. However, if you want to go that extra mile, consider offering some incentive with a discount to those who participate in an organized carpool.

9. Set Up a Gently Used Consignment or Trading List

Young dancers grow out of dancewear and shoes constantly and prices for brand new stuff can get expensive. Again, mobilize your customer base and work together to create a system in which students/parents can offer used items for resale or trade. Frugal parents will thank you.

10. Community Clean-Up

Adopt a highway or join other community clean-up efforts. This is great for your city and the environment. Additionally, showing an interest in your local region is good for business.

11. Buy Organic, Recycled, and Eco-Friendly Products

From the snacks you offer, to the paper towels you use, to the cleaning products you put on your floors, there are plenty of options for going green. Check TheGreenOffice.com or the following link, if you’re not sure where to Find Eco-Friendly Office Supplies.

12. Say No to Faux

Nothing brightens up a space like real, growing things. Consider bringing live plants into your studio environment to cool, humidify, and refresh the air.

Setting the Barre

Point Park University in Pittsburgh is LEED-ing the way with their development of a Leadership in Environmental and Energy Design-certified 42,000 square foot dance complex. Read more about the building at Point Park’s website. And, check out this article featured in Dance Teacher Magazine.

What are some ways your studio is “going green?”

What are the pros and cons of the above 12 steps?

I’m looking forward to your thoughts and input!

A Master Class for Studio Owners

This event is over but DanceStudioOwner.com offers great teleseminars all the time!

Learn more about this excellent resource here

Here’s a special gift for you just for landing on this spot! A free download of my interview with Suzanne on How Blogs Have The Potential To Boost Your Dance Studio Business.

DOWNLOAD IT HERE

There’s a great event coming up for dance studio owners and the best parts (yes, plural) are that

1. It’s a teleseminar, meaning you don’t have to leave your home or office to take part,
2. It’s free, and
3. I’m a featured expert!

Titled Dance Studio Owner Master Class Online, this premiere event’s topic of focus is Bridging The Gap Between Technique And Technology and it is being presented by DanceStudioOwner.com.

Information will be presented through a series of interviews featuring 10 experts with knowledge and experience in the realm of dance and technology. Between April 22 and May 31st, each session will be recorded and made available to those that have signed up. You will receive the link via email to listen as each call is ready. A new call will be ready approximately every 3-4 days during the month.

Here is just a sampling of the topics being presented:

• How Blogs Have The Potential To Boost Your Dance Studio Business (You guessed it, I’m the presenter for this one!)
  
• The Local Paper Isn’t What It Used To Be: How To Get Publicity For Your Dance Studio In Our Fast Paced Digital World
• How To Save Time And Grow Your Business Simply And Affordably With A Website That Works For You
• Going Digital Is What They Want: How To Transition A Paper Based Registration and Billing Systems At Your Dance Studio Online And Easily And Efficiently

How I KNOW this will be a great event…

I have known Suzanne Gerety, the force behind DanceStudioOwner.com, since I began this blog last year. I have worked with her as a content contributor for the site,  have participated in some of her other teleseminar events and am active in the member forum as much as possible. She and her mother, Kathy Blake, have had wonderful success in building Kathy Blake Dance Studios and she is genuine in her desire to help other dance studio owners be successful in running their business. I also know some of the other presenters contributing to this event and between them there is wealth of knowledge that you can draw from to make use of technology online and off  to improve and grow your studio.

Role Reversal: So What Does It All Mean?

I am still in the midst of my performance. Saturday will be the final show. So, in the meantime, I thought I’d open the floor for another Role Reversal discussion topic. The following video has had a few incarnations (this one was newly revised a few months ago) and perhaps you’ve seen it circulated on facebook and elsewhere online. If you haven’t, take a look:

Obviously, if you’re reading this blog, you use a computer, so maybe I’m reaching out to an already converted audience. However, I know that the technology we use in daily life does not always translate to use in our work or business (or visa versa), and perhaps the rate of change is more rapid than we thought or than we are prepared for. After viewing the video, I’d like to pose the same question the video asks: What does it all mean for dancers, dance teachers, studio owners, movement educators? Does this change the way you look at your job, the way you run or advertise your business, the way you reach out to or interact with students? Are dance educators and studios staying on top of ever-changing technology? Do they need to be? What steps have you taken to change with the times, if any? There is no right or wrong way to answer the question. You don’t even have to stick to the ones I’ve posed. In fact, maybe the video raised some questions of your own you’d like to ask. I’m simply curious to hear your thoughts.

“Being Together” Not a Misnomer

Earlier this evening, I had the privilege to watch and host Misnomer Dance Theater’s live broadcast of Being Together on Dance Advantage Interactive. It was truly an event and provided an opportunity for many viewers to “be together,” gathering to watch dance from their prospective parts of the world. The online audience outnumbered the capacity of the Joyce SoHo where the dancers performed, providing both greater exposure for the dance company (many of the online audience were unfamiliar with their work) and an opportunity to expose even young online viewers (kids as young as seven and eight years old tuned in for the show) to dance that they may never have seen otherwise. In addition to simply viewing the performance, online audience members were able to participate in a live chat, sharing their thoughts and general excitement over the opportunity to engage in such an event.

Aside from some technical difficulties during the last half of the performance, the video feed, camera work, and sound were of good quality. The experience was altogether different from attending a live performance in the traditional manner. I didn’t dress up, I didn’t have to find a place to park, I didn’t have to find a babysitter, and people, who could talk throughout the entire performance, came and left when they wanted! I look forward to a future in which more dance companies take their show online even if they can’t take it on the road.

As for the dancing, Misnomer’s performance was excellent. With a mix of Greg Brown, Chet Baker, and others, the musical score for Too Late Tulip was very enjoyable, as was the dancing and partnering work. As a fan of improvisation (especially in performance), I was particularly fond of Rock.Paper.Flock., details of which are written about here and here. I was a bit distracted from the final work Zipper because of a technical glitch that resulted in an obstructed view of the dancers, however I will have another chance to see the work at Misnomer’s website once the archived footage is posted. I encourage you to check it out if you were not able to see the performance live tonight. Teachers, please share this with your students and encourage them to visit as well! It is my understanding that the footage will be available soon and remain through December 31st.

Thanks to those of you that joined me at DA Interactive!

REVIEW: Jonah Bokaer’s The Invention of Minus One at DiverseWorks

Dear Readers, I don’t often write reviews for this blog. However, I’ve worked hard on this one and would like to share the details of this interesting performance with you!

The Texas air was, for a change, a bit chilly. Groups of people stood together on a long, industrial loading platform. Those who had remembered their warmer clothing or coats waited in relative comfort, while others huddled in the crisp night air, thankful for the promise of only spending ten minutes of this evening’s event outdoors. The lights of a vehicle focused across the narrow parking lot, casting illumination on a single garage door in a warehouse that mirrored that of the DiverseWorks gallery and performance venue. Known for hosting experimental works of both performance and visual art, this 25 year-old establishment was likely not surprising much of its audience by briefly displaying a portion of the evening’s dance performance outside. However, as it was late November, only in a city with a climate such as Houston’s could this have been accomplished without protests from the patrons.

Those gathering waited to see the latest offering from an accomplished dancer and choreographer from New York who has already, at the age of 26, received many accolades for his work. Jonah Bokaer, upon joining the Merce Cunningham Dance Company in 2000, became, at age 18, the youngest professional ever hired in the ensemble’s history. In 2002, Bokaer led a group of artists and choreographers in the foundation of Chez Bushwick, an organization based in Brooklyn that focuses on interdisciplinary collaboration between artists of all disciplines, and fosters the development of new work through public programming and by offering much-needed rehearsal space to artists at the subsidized rate of $5 per hour. In addition, Bokaer has co-founded the Center for Performance Research in New York, is a published writer and activist, and drives the spheres of digital media, motion capture, and contemporary technologies to new levels of innovation and interconnectedness in their applications for movement research and development.

With the highway traffic of I-10 roaring nearby, Jonah Bokaer took a turn as performer in False Start, a brief prelude to his feature work The Invention of Minus One, and the reason for which the audience assembled outside. As a lone figure he stood silhouetted before a garage door on a concrete loading dock. Though he began standing, much of the dance was executed at a low level, his body folding and unfolding on the narrow, gritty space within the glow of strategically placed headlights. A rapid flurry of crisp and articulated movements was interrupted by broad strokes, occasionally accented with the rumbling of Bokaer’s feet striking the metal door as he skillfully used it to propel his lower body and shift weight into his hands. During a brief moment of rest for Bokaer, a vibrant image of reds and blues (a projection of Jasper John’s painting, False Start, the namesake and inspiration for the solo) appeared on the garage door. Within the image, an almost skeletal figure took shape and began its own series of folding and unfolding gestures, its lifting, sliding, and flopping a result of the gravity-free motion of unembellished computer animation. Echoing the movements of the figure, Bokaer re-created the phrase. Moments of illumination and darkness followed as the headlights toggled on and off and Bokaer teased the audience, backing up and hovering much too near the edge of the three or four foot ledge, dipping a toe beyond the brink.

False Start is not always presented outdoors. Performers and choreographers often have to make adaptations in dance as they move from venue to venue. In an interview with Nancy Wozny, Bokaer responded to a question about how he planned to adjust the solo for the DiverseWorks stage. Without divulging any details, he commented,  “I look forward to adapting to the space at DiverseWorks and making sure that the piece can “live” there in a way that complements the beauty of the venue.” True to this mission, False Start, seemed at home in the tarnished environment of the Warehouse District. Had it inhabited the same location as Minus One, the solo perhaps would have felt more like a “false start” to the dance that followed. As it was, the piece was fully permitted to stand alone. Despite the occasional distraction of cars meandering through the parking lot, and that the distance was perhaps too great between the tiny makeshift stage and the spectators for comfortable viewing, False Start was an intriguing, rich work, and a fitting opening act to the evening’s main event.

Inside, DiverseWorks’ intimate performance space seemed more equipped for a photo shoot than a dance performance. The stage was set with an assortment of tripods, projection screens, and three wardrobe carts draped with bits of clothing and feather boas. Fifteen white photography umbrellas, installed in a rectangular pattern on the back wall, revealed their purpose as The Invention of Minus One began. Projected upon this unconventional backdrop were two faces. In silence they waited, spoke, and shared brief moments of laughter and sobriety. It was a candid moment shared by the dancers before they physically took the stage in an upstage corner. The three performers would visit this location often throughout the duration of the piece, standing shoulder to shoulder in a row as if collecting themselves before moving onward to the next chapter of their visual story.

The dancers, Bokaer, Alison Cave, and Jimena Paz, wore simple but slightly absurd costumes designed by Isaac Mizrahi. The lone male figure in the trio, Bokaer donned a military-style jacket that seemed a bit cumbersome in appearance with epaulettes heavily beaded with what looked like uncooked macaroni noodles (I believe they were actually wooden beads). Paz was sleekly and femininely dressed in silver leggings and a shimmery top that could easily have come off the Mizrahi fashion line rack at any Target store, while the androgynous Alison Cave’s apparel combined these two looks with silver leggings beneath a less decorated military jacket.

Like many of the key players in Modern Dance, Jonah Bokaer’s investigation and exploration of movement and concepts grows like a branch on a family tree. His work with Merce Cunningham is an unmistakable influence, yet Bokaer presents strong and identifiable themes in a way that Cunningham’s purely kinetic work does not. Although it is left to the viewer to draw their own conclusions about how or why they relate, in The Invention of Minus One, Bokaer has presented vignettes that clearly interconnect and even hint at an underlying meaning. For example, the use of visual media and technology and the way humans interact with it was a common thread throughout the piece. Video projections (designed by former Cunningham dancer, animator, and college professor, Michael Cole) formed a corps of additional performers. The images displayed were varied and included immediate and live footage of the dancers, cutouts of the performers, à la the Vitruvian Man, that bent and twisted like paper dolls as they floated across the screen, and graphic representations of cameras and Polaroid snapshots which shifted and whirled into formations or materialized unexpectedly. Pieces of the set were manipulated and relocated in a similar fashion. At one point the women took Polaroid shots of one another as Bokaer danced on. Once created, these became an effective addition to the collection of props used ingeniously throughout the work.

The sound score, composed by Christian Marclay, crackled, whirred, and pulsed, giving auditory support to a visual feast. In fact, the sounds themselves seemed to give off a kinetic energy that could almost be seen. At times the trio of dancers performed in silence, accompanied only by the award-winning lighting design of Aaron Copp. They responded and connected to one another in a purposeful yet entirely undramatic way. Although the work made great use of gesture and expression, which ranged from unconscious tics to hand signals, to awkward or silly chortling,  the majority of the dancer’s movements appeared simple and pedestrian only because these performers are so skilled. By nature, choreography that is created using simulated or animated dance forms, a method which is at the heart of Bokaer’s work, presents certain challenges for a performer. Although technology can mimic human locomotion, it can produce transitions and sequences that would not be the first (second, or even third) choice of the dancer who must translate the movement onto their body. It is to the credit of these movers that they were able to make the sometimes disjointed choreography look effortless.

There are many memorable moments in The Invention of Minus One which were imprinted in my mind on that chilly November evening. Perhaps an homage to the Cunningham and Cage chance principles, one such episode engaged the dancers in what looked like a slight-of-hand parlor game as they passed a coin between their fingers and beneath their hands on the floor of the stage. In another passage, umbrellas, lit from the inside, turned Jimena Paz into a jellyfish-like creature. Her subtle movements had the effect of whispering, demanding that the viewer pay closer attention. Later, overturned wardrobe carts and focused lighting framed the soles of each dancer’s feet as these appendages performed their own, unique pas de deux. For the most part, although clearly presenting human interactions with technology and with one another, Minus One delivered movement devoid of theatricality. However, in one of the rare moments that this work ventured into emotional terrain, the ambiguously dressed Alison Cave, bathed in a blue spotlight, sat surrounded by the Polaroid photos which she had just collected. One by one she gazed at the photos as if memorizing or recalling the details of each. As I write this review of The Invention of Minus One, this image, in particular, resonates. I realize I am doing the same. Capturing, collecting, and recalling these snapshots in time and space. They remain with me as if caught by the flash of a camera.

Excerpts from Jonah Bokaer’s False Start and The Invention of Minus One are available for viewing at TenduTV , a broadband television channel featuring staged and filmed modern and contemporary dance and ballet performances from both established and emerging choreographers and companies. TenduTV’s branded channel is currently available on TidalTV and on Sling.com.

A New Resource for Dance Studio Owners Offers Real-Life Experience, Support, and a Personal Touch

Dance studio owners have a unique job.

They wear many hats, requiring skills as an instructor, mentor, administrator, production manager, choreographer, entrepreneur, business manager, “boss” and more. I have never owned a studio but have taught at many throughout the years, and have observed this juggling act which owners perform every season. It can be a lonely job in that you are constantly between two worlds – the business and the artistic, the worker bee and the queen bee, the motivator and the disciplinarian.

Relationships with others who share these experiences can reduce the everyday stress of a being a studio owner. Not only can owners learn from one another, they can be a sounding board or a listening ear when these are most needed.

A Beacon for Dance Studio Owners

Throughout my journey in the online dance community, I’ve been fortunate to meet some wonderful and giving people. I have been freely offered support, encouragement, answers, and information from those who have a passion for dance and seek to share this passion with others. From my very first interaction with Suzanne Blake Gerety, I found her to be a sincere and generous person. This first impression has lasted as I’ve continued to chat with her through Twitter and emails. Therefore, I feel confident in sharing her website, DanceStudioOwner.com, with my readers. I truly feel that this website provides a unique service for those who are or are seeking to become studio owners.

While there are other places online in which dance studio owners can gather, Suzanne, her mom, Kathy, and other site contributors are offering something special with DanceStudioOwner. Its resources alone make the site valuable to any studio administrator. However, in addition to the information and networking opportunities available, this website is facilitated by actual studio owners who cherish the joys and challenges of running a studio after 35 years in the business.

Kathy Blake began her studio with a dream not unlike that of many studio owners. She has weathered ups and downs and currently operates a performing arts studio with over 1,000 students. Now, with the help of her daughter, Suzanne, she is supporting other studio owners with the goal of sharing her success with others. I have witnessed first-hand the generosity and sincerity with which this mother-daughter team make themselves available to the members of their site.

I recently spoke with Suzanne about DanceStudioOwner, its content, and what’s next for the site. Her words illustrate the spirit of collaboration that is behind the mission of this ever-expanding resource.

Your mother’s success as a dance studio owner inspired you to pass on her legacy, knowledge, and passion through DanceStudioOwner.com. If possible, sum up the keys to her success in just a few words.

Dedication, Determination, and Enthusiasm.  My mom’s success has been guided by those words during the times when situations have been challenging or when it seemed impossible to grow.  She’s always been in love with the art of dance and she loves her business, it’s a beautiful combination and I believe it is what makes her a success and also just a great person to be with.  My mom is a lot of fun and she loves to help people find their greatness.

Your website is an online community and resource for studio owners. Why do you think it is important for studio owners to interact with other studio owners, and how does technology facilitate this interaction?

I am a firm believer that studio owners can collaborate together to help encourage each other to build their unique brand – whether they are across town or on another continent – you can be in a conversation of abundance. Studio owners often stretch themselves very thin with the thousands of details it takes to run a studio, our website functions as a collaborative space for them to reduce their time spent on certain tasks, get answers from other owners who are dealing with many of the same challenges, and to get the coaching or support they need to stay focused on keeping their passion for dance alive as they run and grow their studio.

The site explores topics from classroom management to business management and includes a forum where members can post questions and share ideas. What have you seen as the primary concerns of today’s studio owners?

Today’s studio owners are concerned with keeping up with the latest technology available to them to help keep their studio running smoothly.  They are also concerned about the economic situation we are in and what impact it may have on their school.  Lastly, with the popularity of the many dance shows on TV, many worry that the foundations of proper dance technique are being forgotten because young dancers see these shows yet they don’t see the many years of training it takes to lead up to that level of dance.  Studio owners are working to find the balance of offering the popular classes while staying dedicated to the art of dance to maintain a steady foundation of dancers at their schools – student retention.

Your site is really just beginning, yet you seem to have an active group of members. Are these members from all over the U.S.?

Yes, the wonderful thing about being on the web is that our members already represent from over 24 states in the U.S. and also Australia and Scotland.   Our members are our number one priority and what I know from the many conversations I’ve had no matter where they are located; studio owners face many of the same challenges.  Having just launched our site in the spring of 2008, we are thrilled at the positive response, and that studio owners know that our site is a resource for them no matter where they are located.  The information is available to them 24/7/365.

The site offers articles, downloads, monthly teleconferencing, and more to its members. What’s next for the site? What other features can members look forward to?

We are so excited about the content we are working on for DanceStudioOwner.com.  You’ll see more video clips and video coaching added. Plus, look for podcasts in the future! I am going to keep bringing the latest trends in social networking and technology to studio owners.  I do believe that many of these trends are going to change the way that business has been run in the past.  My number one goal is to always listen to what our members need and want – they’ve loved our custom coloring sheets and we will add more resources for teachers as well.  Plus our network of contributors continues to grow: experts who can make a difference for how studio owners start and grow their business.

For more information about DanceStudioOwner.com, the subscription page lists member benefits. Or, try their free tip of the week mailing.

My Contribution

My vision for Dance Advantage is not unlike the one that Suzanne and Kathy have for DanceStudioOwner. My goal is to offer a collection of articles, essays, and resources for others, who like myself, have a passion for dance. Perhaps it is this like-mindedness that inspires my support of DanceStudioOwner and why I became interested in contributing to the site in some way. As always, I write what I know. Therefore, I have recently contributed two articles to the DanceStudioOwner’s new technology department about, (what else), blogging. I am increasingly certain that a studio blog is a valuable tool for dance studios and in these posts I explain a little bit about why. Suzanne has kindly made these articles available to my readers via the following links:

Why Consider a Studio Blog?

Blogs Have the Potential to Boost Your Business

If you own a dance studio, are thinking about owning one, or if you are a teacher that operates your own dance program, I hope you’ll check out what the site has to offer. Learn more about subscribing here.

Dancing with the Stars (Not Those Stars)

Celebrities get their fair share of exposure so, no, this is not another post on reality tv’s hit show. Instead, I wanted to highlight one woman’s realized dream to create dance in zero-gravity. Read more

Shall Wii Dance??

The release of Wii Fit got me thinking – Will dance be the next evolution in Wii technology? This Miami Herald article describes the uses of Wii Fit and the accompanying balance board…

Players use the board to perform aerobic exercises, strength training and even yoga — all while trying to keep pace with an avatar on the TV screen. They also get verbal encouragement and feedback on technique.

Could this balance board also offer appropriate feedback on technique for a ballet barre or for tap dancers? Could a wider dance floor-type board make the Wii more useful for dance movements that are less stationary? Could the board help correct placement issues like pronation/supination (rolling-in or out when standing) or pelvic alignment, provide assessment of one’s take-off or landing from jumps, or actually teach steps – from a jazz square to a pas de bourre to a time step? Would this lead to more do-it-yourself dance training and decreased enrollment in classes? I have not used Wii Fit but am curious to try it out.

What are some of your thoughts? Would you utilize the technology for dance if it were available? What are some other ways you could see this technology being useful for the study of dance?

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